Tips For Self Care

My name is Amy, and, to my detriment, I am a fan of the word "Yes". I will always try to do as many things as I can, for as many people as I can. I put myself under immense pressure, across college, career paths, friends, sports, my relationship and personal obligations. I have only recently learned the word "balance" and even more recently have I come to know and enjoy the act of "self care".

So, with that in mind, I will talk you through my tips for self care.

Book Time For Yourself

Image: SKConcepts.com

If you take no other advice from me, please just do this one thing. When I look at my Google Calendar, I am acutely aware of how busy I am. By booking in time for yourself, you are making a positive choice for your self care regime. If that hour if filled with eating bread, or going for a swim, or tea with a friend, then you've made good use of it for your personal reasons, and that's the only thing that matters. Personally, I make sure to have some personal time for a bubble bath with Netflix, an hour for tea with a friend, and time to spend with Dex. If nothing else, I get some regular, bite-sized chunks of time and that way, I don't feel so overwhelmed when I'm going to bed late and up early, day in and day out.

Image: Pinterest.com

Take Time For Cathartic Things

I find so much peace in methodical tasks, which is why when I need to take some time for me, I tend to cook and clean. Call me a 50's housewife if you want, but it makes me feel so much better. Not only in the moment, but when I've cooked enough mac and cheese to stock my boyfriends freezer for multiple dinners to come, and left my house looking like a cover off House And Home magazine, the feeling of relaxation and contentment sticks around far longer than just the moment!

Exercise

Take up a sport, go to the gym, run, whatever. Take time for your body. Personally for me, running was the best thing I could do. Every time I took myself out for a run, however short or long, I felt better. If you've thoughts to pick through, or you need to relax, running can be a great help.

Image: Pinterest.com

Pamper Yourself 

I don't mean book a massage, but if you want to do that, then be my guest!! Take an hour off for yourself, take a long shower, exfoliate, do a face pack, make a fuss of yourself. This is the kind of self care it can be even more effective to share with a friend over a glass of vino.

So how do I implement Self Care?

I take myself out for coffee, I run myself super hot bubble baths and watch Riverdale on a Friday, I cook, I do laundry (it sounds wierd, but I love it). I indulge in my one passion project that doesn't have anything to do with my career path or sporting life - Scientology documentaries/books. I rope Dex into doing nose-strips and face packs, and every once in a while when I have the time, I take to my bed for a day to watch movies and eat tortilla chips with nacho cheese dip!

Doing the things that make you happy, that take the stress away in that moment, that's SO important. You are important. The things that make your life better are important. Do more of them.

If you're a fan of self care, let me know your recommendations for things to do in the comments!

Amy,

xo

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Beauty Tag!

I'm so blocked when it comes to writing, it's killing me! I'm coming to you today with a tag, because I'm trying to work off the block right now. Bear with me, this isn't my usual style. 

On we go!

SKINCARE

-How many times do you wash your face daily?
I wash my face once a day, but I use cleanser twice a day. 

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
Oily with dry patches. Generally speaking my skin is actually pretty well behaved. 

-What is your current facial wash?
I use the Peaches and Clean Cleansing Milk from Soap and Glory. 

-Do you exfoliate?
Once a day, maybe once every other day. 

-What brand do you use?
I move between exfoliating masks from Lush and Loreal Men Expert Pure Power.

-What moisturizer do you use?
Nivea Q10 Energising Day Cream every day without fail! It's my holy grail.

-Do you have freckles?
Yep. Comes with the territory of being ginger!

-Do you use eye cream?
Sometimes, when I do I use the Nivea Q10 Eye Cream

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
I've never had acne, woohoo!!

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
Nope. Never!! 

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?
I move between Estee Lauder Double Wear, Rimmel Match Perfection, and Covergirl Outlast 3 in 1, 

-How about concealer?
Collection Lasting Perfection

-Do you know your undertone color?
I think it's pink? 

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
I like them, they can really make a look 

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months?
I did, but I don't always abide by that...

-What brand of mascara do you use?
Benefit Roller Lash or Catrice False Lash Effect

-Sephora or MAC?
After being in Paris, Sephora all the way! BRING SEPHORA TO DUBLIN!

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
Nay! 

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
Brushes and my Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge...

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
Not always, but when I do I use my Essence I Heart Stage primer

-For the face?
Without a doubt, my Catrice Smoothing Pore Refiner

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
I love a smokey eye... 

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
Both! 

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
Every time, I'm clumsy!!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
They're alright, I haven't much experience of them to be honest... 

-Do you use mineral makeup?
Not that I'm aware of.

-What is your favorite lipstick?
Ah lads, how long have you got to hear me wax lyrical?! I love my HEMA red, Urban Decay Shame, MAC Faux, to name but three...

-How about lipgloss?
I cannot abide the stuff, it makes me feel so uncomfortable. 

-What is your favorite blush to use?
Catrice Ultimate Color in Rosewood Forest

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
Nope. Never. 

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
I love it, often times I will opt for budget brands over high end...

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
Like The Cosmetic Outlet? Sometimes! 

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
Yes, please someone teach me! 

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Well I don't know how to make my winged liner match, and I've been wearing winged liner for years...

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
Some girls don't know how important brows are. Also, BLEND DOWN YOUR NECK OMG!!!

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
I like both, I tend to go for neutral eyes and a bright lip. 

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
Emmmm, I cant think of any celebrities...

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
Brows, brows, brows, brows, BROWS!

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
Of course. I do it all the time. I don't need a full face to feel beautiful. 

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
I've got to say, I feel just as confident without makeup. 

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
Hmmmm..... I love Urban Decay, but I also feel incredibly loyal to Rimmel...

-What do you think of Makeup? 
I think it's an incredible thing, you can use it any way you like and express yourself any way you see fit. I think it's wonderful and liberating and fun. 

I TAG: All of you reading this! If you decide to do this tag, send me the link, I would love to read it! 

Amy 

xo

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The Bigger, The Better - GlassesShop.com REVIEW

If you've been here for a while you might know that I'm a bit of a glasses addict, for lack of a better way of putting it. In the past year, I've accumulated five pairs of corrective eyeglasses with my current scrip in them. I love having glasses I can treat like another accessory - albeit much more useful than rings or chains!

Recently, Glasseshop.com got in touch again to ask me would I like to work with them again, to review a new pair of frames from their new range! Since I'm me, and I love glasses so so much, I of course said yes, and here we are. They have a whole plethora of new stock, from regular glasses frames, to prescription sunglasses, of every shape and size, for every taste.

I love tortoise shell toned frames of every shape and size, I love giant frames and I love them to be lightweight. And today I am going to review a frame that ticks all of those boxes! I've a huge soft spot for oversized designer frames, but with my return to college, I don't really have the budget!

The Mamie Wayfarer has a large prescription lens, which I think is great, every way I look, I can't see the frame. The arms of the frame are thin enough to be lightweight, thick enough to have decent strength. I am incredibly pleased with the build quality of the frame. Having already gotten to wear a pair of frames from Glasses Shop (you can read the review HERE), the best thing about the frames I've found is the toughness. They're springy, they're robust and they don't scuff!

What I love about these frames is that I can wear elaborate eye makeup, and you can see it behind the lens and frame. In many other frames I've worn, I can't justify wearing eyeliner or any eye makeup because the smaller the frame, the less you;ll see it! With this, you are guaranteed to see my liner wings and I don't risk mascara smudges on the inside of the lens.

I love the frame pattern, a subtle tortoise shell motif that looks like a plain black glossy finish in the right light. It's subtle, picking up my freckles in the golden brown shade and complimenting my red hair to boot!!

If you've ever bought a pair of well fitting frames, you will be able to pull the measurements from the inside of the arm on the frame, which will help you pick a well fitting frame from GlassesShop. That way, you'll be sure that you're buying the right size for your face, as you would be if you were to buy shoes online. Glasses Shop also have a helpful guide to help you work out the measurements and what they mean and you can find it HERE!

If you're in the market for a new pair of glasses, I have a coupon code for my readers: GSHOT50 will get you 50% off any frame you want, including sunglasses and you'll get the prescription lenses for free. The only caveat is that you can't use this code on frames that are in the sale section.

So now I must ask, what do you think of my new glasses?

Be brutal! 

Amy 

xo

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Thanks to GlassesShop.com for providing me with these frames to review. 

No money has changed hands for this post - #NotSpon